Q&A / 

Rusted Joist Hangers are Dangerous One of my newsletter subscribers, Robert, does handyman work on the weekends for friends and other homeowners. Eleven years ago, he wanted to learn how to frame a large shed including common roof framing. He volunteered to help me build my 16x24-foot two-story shed. We’ve been fast friends ever since […]

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Concrete Deck and House Piers - Think of Your Legs Mother Nature is so smart. She taught us to build strong buildings, decks, docks, etc. Just look at your own body, for goodness sake. Your legs and feet do the same thing that concrete piers do in the construction world. Your legs are vertical columns […]

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Bad Deck Flashing Causes Rot Ed, my golf league partner, asked me a few days ago if there was a product to fix some wood rot he had discovered at his home. You may be battling wood rot too. In your case it might be interior wall studs or floor joists that get wet from […]

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DIY Deck Building Tips - Prevent Deck Collapse! Are you about to build a deck yourself? Perhaps you’re going to hire a professional. My guess is you don’t know as much about the process as you should know. Add to the mix the cable TV shows that go on and on and on about how […]

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Deck Ledger Flashing - Fire Cut and Kick Out Deck collapses happen all the time across the world. The issue is many of them never make the news. Several years ago I attended an all-day training session put on by a top USA manufacturer. This company is a leader in making fantastic metal structural connectors […]

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Connecting Deck Posts and Piers - Use the Right Hardware QUESTION: Tim, you helped me years ago and now I’m back. I’m going to build a freestanding deck at my house during my vacation. After watching lots of online videos, I’m somewhat confused about how to connect the deck posts to the concrete piers. What […]

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Does Treated Wood Rot? - You Bet it Does QUESTION: Tim, my next-door neighbor discovered that many of his outdoor deck floor joists are rotting. The rot is along the top where the decking attaches to them. It’s treated lumber rated for outdoor exposure. How can this be possible? I thought treated lumber was rot-proof […]

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Treated Lumber Ratings - Twelve at Last Count Twelve different treated lumber ratings Identifying the rating Treated lumber corrodes fasteners Why decks collapse CLICK or TAP HERE to subscribe to my FREE newsletter DEAR TIM: I’m a remodeling contractor and have started to see a disturbing trend in the failure of treated lumber. I was […]

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